Beijing

Beijing (formerly known as Peking) is the capital of CHina, and one of the largest cities in the world, with a population nearing 20 million. The city is found in the north of the country, and is its political and cultural centre.

Beijing is one of the most important transport hubs in Asia. The city has numerous rail links, with conventional lines as well as high-speed rail links to destinations including Shanghai. International routes are also available to Mongolia, Russia, Vietnam and North Korea.

Often considered to be the most interesting of the Trans-Siberian rail journeys, the Trans-Mongolian route is made onboard Train 4, and takes six days to travel between the cities, across Mongolia via Ulan-Bator and the Gobi Desert.

Places to Stop:

There are plenty of good places to stop en route, in order to break the long journey up a bit. The best spots include:

Yekaterinburg

Yunguang Caves

Ulan Bator; and

Lake Baikal

Of course, you get to see plenty from the window of your train too, including the Gobi Desert and Lake Baikal.

For a good choice of hotels with discount prices, visit Hotels in Moscow for more information.

What to Bring:

There are a few items that you would be well-advised to take with you on your Trans-Mongolian trip, including: